SPECIAL SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 248330. June 29, 2020.]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,vs. IGNACIO REYES y VALDEZ a.k.a. 'TATAY DORO,' EDWIN DALICANO y LIBADESUS a.k.a. 'EDWIN DALICANO y LEVA DE JESUS' a.k.a. 'PAPA WENG,' and JUSTIN SANTIAGO y SANTOS, accused-appellants.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames:
Please take notice that the Court, Special Second Division, issued a Resolutiondated29 June 2020which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 248330 (People of the Philippines v. Ignacio Reyes y Valdez a.k.a. 'Tatay Doro,' Edwin Dalicano y Libadesus a.k.a. 'Edwin Dalicano y Leva De Jesus' a.k.a. 'Papa Weng,' and Justin Santiago y Santos). — After a judicious study of the case, the Court resolves to DISMISS the appeal 1 for failure to sufficiently show that the Court of Appeals (CA) committed any reversible error in its assailed Decision as to warrant the exercise of the Court's appellate jurisdiction. However, in light of prevailing jurisprudence, 2 the Court deems it proper to impose legal interest on all monetary awards.
WHEREFORE, the Court ADOPTS the findings of facts and conclusions of law in the April 11, 2019 Decision 3 of the CA in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 09338 and AFFIRMS with MODIFICATION said Decision finding accused-appellants Ignacio Reyes y Valdez a.k.a. 'Tatay Doro,' Edwin Dalicano y Libadesus a.k.a. 'Edwin Dalicano y Leva De Jesus' a.k.a. 'Papa Weng,' and Justin Santiago y Santos GUILTY beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Qualified Trafficking in Persons, defined and penalized under Section 6 (a) and (c), in relation to Section 3 (a) of Republic Act No. (RA) 9208, 4 otherwise known as the 'Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003,' as amended by RA 10364, 5 otherwise known as the 'Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.' Accordingly, each of them is sentenced to suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and to pay a fine in the amount of P2,000,000.00; and to jointly and severally pay private complainant AAA 6 the following amounts: (a) P500,000.00 as moral damages; and (b) P100,000.00 as exemplary damages, plus cost of suit. Moreover, all monetary awards shall earn an interest at legal rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of the finality of this Resolution until full payment.
SO ORDERED. (Gaerlan, J., designated Additional Member per Special Order No. 2780 dated May 11, 2020. Lopez, J., designated Additional Member vice Inting, J., per Raffle dated February 19, 2020.)"
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) TERESITA AQUINO TUAZONDeputy Division Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1. See Notice of Appeal with Compliance dated May 3, 2019; rollo, pp. 23-25.
2. See People v. XXX, G.R. No. 235652, July 9, 2018.
3.Rollo, pp. 3-22. Penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting (now a member of this Court) with Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Rodil V. Zalameda (now a member of this Court), concurring.
4. Entitled "AN ACT TO INSTITUTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESTABLISHING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on May 26, 2003.
5. Entitled "AN ACT EXPANDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9208, ENTITLED 'AN ACT TO INSTITUTE POLICIES TO ELIMINATE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESTABLISHING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES'," approved on February 6, 2013.
6. The identity of the victim or any information which could establish or compromise her identity, as well as those of her immediate family or household members, shall be withheld pursuant to Republic Act No. (RA) 7610, entitled "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER DETERRENCE AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND DISCRIMINATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on June 17, 1992; RA 9262, entitled "AN ACT DEFINING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, PROVIDING FOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR VICTIMS, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," approved on March 8, 2004; and Section 40 of A.M. No. 04-10-11-SC, otherwise known as the "RULE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN" (November 15, 2004). (See footnote 4 in People v. Cadano, Jr., 729 Phil. 576, 578 [2014], citing People v. Lomaque, 710 Phil. 338, 342 [2013]. See also Amended Administrative Circular No. 83-2015, entitled "PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES IN THE PROMULGATION, PUBLICATION, AND POSTING ON THE WEBSITES OF DECISIONS, FINAL RESOLUTIONS, AND FINAL ORDERS USING FICTITIOUS NAMES/PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES," dated September 5, 2017.) See further People v. Ejercito, G.R. No. 229861, July 2, 2018. To note, the unmodified CA Decision was not attached to the records to verify the real name of the victim.